SVG sends contingent to Youth Olympic Games

St Vincent and the Grenadines will be represented in three disciplines in the second staging of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), set for Nanjing, China, from August 16 to 28.{{more}}

The seven-member team, which left here yesterday, includes Delshun Welcome and Rodell Fraser – beach volleyball; Adora Lawrence – swimming; and Deslorn Lawrence – track and field. Kyle Dougan is the swim coach, with Rosmund Griffith being the chaperone and Shaun Young, chief of mission.

Fraser and Welcome qualified as the male representatives from the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) in a tournament held in St Lucia last October. They will form part of the games’ history, as it will be the first time that beach volleyball is being contested at the YOG.

It is also the first time that St Vincent and the Grenadines has qualified for a team sport at the Olympic Games.

In the case of Adora and Deslorn Lawrence, both received Universality places allocated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The IOC also insists that the participants be between the ages of 15 and 18 years.

Unlike the Summer and Winter Olympics, the emphasis of the Youth Olympic Games is on participation and establishing camaraderie, which conforms with the ideals of the founding fathers of the Olympics. Fundamentally, the games are sandwiched by opportunities for education on the Olympic movement and an outlet for cultural activities.

At the inaugural YOG in Singapore in 2010, St Vincent and the Grenadines was represented in track and field by Renaldo Charles and Shantal Rouse and in taekwondo by Dasreen Primus.

The officials who travelled then were Wayne Williams – chief of mission with Glenroy Gaymes and Keisha Sutherlands as team officials.(RT)